Clemente Suriano AKA Golden Elk

[educatedindian]

Got a request about him from someone concerned about a family member's involvement. The request says he is Mexican but posing as Lakota after spending enough time with several Lakota to speak a bit of the language.

"Doctor" Phil apparently did a show criticizing him, the first time I have anything positive to say about the former doctor.
Clips at http://drphil.com/shows/show/1599

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http://www.examiner.com/article/golden-elk-cult-receives-interest-after-dr-phil-clemente-suriano-expose-videos
On February 16, 2011, Dr. Phil aired an expose on a Native American guru Clemente Suriano who goes by the name of Golden Elk. The group lives in Chimayo, New Mexico and family members believe that Clemente Suriano is a dangerous cult leader. The show featured three women as they tried to reconnect with family members they believe joined the cult and were subsequently forced to cut contact with them after doing so. Dr. Phil did not state whether or not he believed the group was a cult or if he personally believed that Clemente Suriano "Golden Elk" was a cult leader, but rather left it up for the audience to decide. After the show aired, message boards  lit up with the overwhelming majority of responses indicating belief that Golden Elk is running a cult.

The show began with two mothers, Iris and Leisa, who say their children stopped contact after joining Golden Elk's group. Iris is the mother of 26-year-old Elon and Leisa is the mother of Ashley who is 27-years-old. Also joining the panel was Ashley's twin sister, Chelsea who expressed deep longing for her sister to become part of her life....

Joining the panel and sharing her beliefs regarding Clemente Suriano and his hold over his followers was Golden Elk's ex-wife Kelly Suriano.

Kelly Suriano spoke of her life and journey with Clemente Suriano as she stated that Clemente was a member of the Star Nation and was a Star Knowledge speaker. An introduction to Clemente Suriano on the Star Knowledge Speakers website describes Golden Elk as, "Presenting the Ways of Family through the teachings of Unci Iktomi and the Tatanka Oyate. Clemente is an Ikce Wicasa from the Mayan Nation and other nations and Keziah has followed the teachings of the Rainbow Nations from an early age." Kelly specifically pointed out that by encouraging and forcing his followers to cut ties with family members he was not holding true to the teachings of Unci Iktomi and Tatanka Oyate. Clemente Suriano is not "Presenting the Ways of Family" as evidenced by his followers.

Kelly Suriano stated that Clemente Suriano exhibited extreme control over the members of the group. She indicated that at one point he told one of the members to punish himself and the follower beat himself in the face. She also stated that Iris and Leisa's children, Elon and Ashley are now known by the names Kangaroo and Perla.

The followers support the group with a cleaning business and an intervention was set up with a hidden camera filming a brief reunion between Ashley, her sister Chelsea and her mother Leisa. Ashley appeared to have a glassy look in her eyes and was visibly different from the photos her family revealed on the show earlier. She also spoke with a pseudo-British accent and carefully controlled every syllable. Her family stated this was not Ashley's normal speaking voice. Appearing emotionless there was no physical contact as Ashley never reached out to embrace her mother and sister whom she hadn't seen in years, even missing her twin sister's wedding. In a robotic manner she told her mother and sister that though she loved them she never wanted to see or have contact with them again.

Iris attempted a reunion with her son, Elon but it never came to fruition. After stating that he would see his mother for lunch, Elon called at the last minute and canceled. You may see video clips from the show and a news report by KRQE in the video player to the left.